NEWARK – Seven bank robberies in three counties over four months kept Steven Wisnowski of Barnegat and investigators busy for a while, authorities said.

On Friday, the charges against the 30-year-old were the subject of his first appearance in federal court, where he faced Judge Mark Falk on seven counts of bank robbery throughout Middlesex, Ocean and Monmouth counties between October 2013 and January 2014 , authorities said.

According to U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman, Wisnowski started with a PNC Bank in Edison on Oct. 30, then visited two Brick banks — the TD Bank and the Santander Bank on Nov. 7 and 15 respectively — returned to Edison Nov. 27 to rob the Columbia Bank and headed south again Dec. 2 for TD Bank in Toms River. A week later, on Dec. 9, he hit the PNC Bank in Aberdeen, and the spree ended in Edison on Jan. 7 at the Fulton Bank, police said.

During the robberies he wore hats, hooded jackets and wigs as a disguise, and would demand big bills only from the bank tellers, authorities said.

At some banks, he implied that he had a weapon under his clothing, police said.

Law enforcement caught on to Wisnowski’s vehicle. While he was inside the Fulton Bank on Jan. 7, police were waiting for him outside. As he came out of the bank he was ordered to the ground at gunpoint. Wisnowski threw the cash-filled envelope and ran, but not for long, as police apprehended him, authorities said.

Each of the seven counts of bank robbery carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.